Method and apparatus for sinking mine shafts



Feb. 2, 1954 c. K. BAIN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SINKING MINE SHAFTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 13, 1952 IN V EN TOR.

CHARLES K. BAIN BY Feb. 2, 1954 c. K. BAIN 2,667,750

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SINKING MINE SHAFTS Filed June 13, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3.

FIG. I9.

INVENTOR. FIG. 20. CHARLES K. BAIN Feb. 2, 1954 c. K. BAlN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SINKING MINE SHAFTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 13, 1952 INVENTOR.

CHARLES K. BAiN Feb. 2, 1954 c. K. BAlN 2,667,750

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SINKING MINE SHAFTS Filed June 15, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 HARLES K. BAIN 8 f a FIG 13. W

Feb. 2, 1954 c. K. BAlN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SINKING MINE SHAFTS Filed June 13, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

CHARLES Patented Feb. 2, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD AND APPARATUS F03 SINKING lVI'IKIL SHAFTS flharlcs K. Rain, Bonne Terrc,.Mo.

Application Ilunel'fl', 1952, Serial No. 293,3!)6

This invention pertains to a method and apparatus for sinking mine shafts.

It has become customary to provide a mine shaft with a lining along the walls thereof or concrete so as to seal on water seepage and prevent crumbling and the like. The usual practice has been to excavate the shaft to its run depth and then to appi'y the concrete lining to the shaft wallszstarting at the bottom and working upward to the top of the shaft.

An object of this invention is to provide a method whereby a concrete lining may be applied to the shaft wallas the excavation of the shait proceeds, working fromthe top downward.

Another object is to provide improved apparatus, whereby such method can be carried out expeditiously and at a minimum cost.

In accordance with this invention, generally stated the starting portion of the shaft, which usually extends through soil, is excavated in about or foot sections. or whatever distance the ground will not require artificial support. Metal forms (to be described later) are then erected along the shaft walls but spaced therefrom, and concrete is pouredbetween said forms and the wall to form a concrete lining for the shaft wall. At the same time vertical guide beams, usually four in number, are 'cast'into the lining. when rock has been encountered a regular "sequence of operations is carried out substantially as follows.

*Gperating in sections of, say, 10 or 20 feet depth, "drilling and blasting operations are per formed for such a section. This is done after the preceding section has been mocked and before the lining has been cast therein. Thu after the last finished sectionof lining thereis a first suc ceeding section which has been mocked and cleared of broken rock, and a second succeeding section which has been blasted but not mocked but is still *filled with broken rock. A working cage carrying tools, materials and supplies necessary for placing forms, is then lowered into thesha'ft, guided by engagement with the aforesaid vertical guide beams cast in the furished lining. New sections of said guide beams are secured at their tops to the lower ends or those aireadyinstalled, and are clamped at their lower ends to a template which is then plumb-ed and "centered in the-shaft. The metal forms, including a lower concretesirppvzn'tlm, ring, are then mounted on said guide beams. Said lower ring extends toward the shaft wail and-the space between it and the *wa-ll is closed bypillng "up looseroelt against the inside thereof. Goncrete' is then poured into the space between said forms and the shaft wall and vibrated in the usual manner. While this concrete is setting the mucking operation is carried out to clear said second succeeding section of broken rock thereby leaving a ten foot clear section below the forms. The bottom is then drilled for the next blasting operation and the sequence is repeated.

A preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. in which- Fig. 1 is a plan view of a working cage, embodying' this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the template;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a section of the concrete supporting lower ring;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of one or the upright form sections;

Fig. '2 is a plan View of'the pouring section;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of Fig. "I;

Fig. '9 is a section on line 99,Fi'g. "T;

Fig. this a section on line I'll-Ill, of Fig. 7;

Fig. 11 is a detailed plan view of the sealing gate for the pouring section;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary vertical section of a portion of the shaft wall with all the torms in place; Fig. 13 is a section of a part of the shaft showmg the relation of the guide beams, the template. and the forms during the process of mounting the same;

14 is a sectionen line H'Ilv oiFig. 13.;

Fig. I5 is an enlarged section on line li-ffi of Fig. 13;

Fig. 16 is a section on line |5-lli of Fig. 13;

Fig. 17 is a section on line I'|l'| of Fig. 13;

Fig. '18 :is a section on line lib-1.8 of Fig. L3;

Fig 19 is an enlarged. perspective detail of the key plate; and

Fig. 20 is an enlarged seetlonon line III-20 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate the working. cage, indicated generally as 20. This comprisesan-upright centralcolumn formed of tour angle beams t (Fig. 20). These ao'e spaced symmetricallzyabout a central axis, leaving a space there-between. At the upper end of this column four horizontal beams extend radially therefrom. Each ofthese beams is romedofla pair of channels 2, secured to a central plate 3, and -'connected at their outer ends to a verticalplate l. The plate extends downward from-the channels I and has extend ing along each edge thereof, an angle bar 5, said bars 5 forming with the plate 4, a vertical channel. At the bottom of the central column formed by the beams I, a similar structure of radial arms is provided, each arm consisting of a pair of channels 6, connected at their outer ends to the lower ends of the plates 4. A floor plate I is secured on top of the channels 6, and a ceiling plate 8 is secured on top of the channels 2. Said floor and ceiling plates are generally circular, except that in one quadrant thereof, they are cut off at an angle, as indicated at 9. This provides clearance in the type of shaft for which this particular cage was designed to provide clearance between the cage and the walls of the shaft to permit th cage to clear a sinking pump which might be suspended next to the side Wall. This portion of the cage may be provided with a series of clamps Hi to which pipes may be secured, to be lowered into the shaft by the cage. An eye bolt II, is provided by which the cage may be suspended, from the usual hoist at the top of the shaft.

The template shown in Figs. 3 and 4, indicated generally by the numeral 2|, comprises a series of radially extending arms formed of channels l2. As may be seen from Fig. 3, each arm is formed of two such channels spaced apart by end spacing plates l3, and connected at the center of the template by upper and lower web plates l4 and I5 respectively. An eye bolt It at the center of the structure is provided for suspending the same on a hoist, as will be described later.

The plate I3 on each arm is spaced a short distance in from the end of the arm, so as to form a radial notch in said end, adapted to receive a removable key plate H. The plate H is formed to fit between the ends of the channels l2, and has a shoulder I8, adapted to abut the plate l3. This plate is loosely inserted in said notch to provide the proper spacing between guide beams when the latter are placed against said key plates. It also brings the beams to proper distance apart and spaces them at 90 to properly place one in each quadrant. As will be described later, when the pouring operation is complete, these key plates are removed so as to provide clearance between the beams and the template for removal of the latter.

In accordance with the method of this invention, a shaft is sunk in a succession of steps. Each step includes excavating the bottom of the shaft to a predetermined depth beyond that already excavated, and casting a concrete shaft lining on the wall of the excavated section. As each section of the shaft lining is cast, the guide beams are installed and anchored to the concrete lining.

The first section at the top of the shaft may be excavated in any usual manner. As such top section is usually through soil, the procedure must be adapted to the nature of the soil. This may be true of not only the first but of one or two succeeding sections. After these initial sections have been excavated and the shaft lining cast, the subsequent excavation must usually be made through rock. This may involve drilling, blasting, mucking in any usual manner.

In accordance with the present method, after such initial sections have been installed a succeeding ten foot section is blasted and cleared of debris and a second section is blasted. Thus a clear section is left between the section being blasted and the lower terminus of the concrete lining. This provides a safeguard against the likelihood of the concrete being shaken loose by the blast. At this point the cage 20 is loaded with the necessary parts, tools and other equipment. The template 2| is suspended below the case on the hoist 22. Usually during the lowering operation, the template is drawn up by a hoist 22 close to the bottom of the cage so as, in effect, to form an integral part of the cage, and to avoid binding on the guide beams. The extending arms of the cage and the template engage the guide beams already installed to be guided by them during the lowering operation.

New sections of guide beams 23, together with the necessary connecting plates 24, are carried by the cage. When the cage has been lowered to a point just above the lower ends of the guide beams already installed, its descent is arrested and it is held at that point. The workmen who ride down with the cage lower new guide beam sections 23 each by means of a hoist 25 through the channels formed by the plates 4 and the angle bars 5. The cage usually carries several of such hoists, as shown in Fig. 2. Usually one hoist is positioned for convenient handling of each of the guide beam sections. When a new guide beam section has been lowered to its proper position in extension of one of the previously installed guide beams, its upper end is connected to the latter by means of a pair of connecting plates 24. Ordinarily four such guide beam sections are installed. The connecting plates hold the beams 23, not yet supported at the bottom, rigid enough to lower the cage to the bottom of the shaft where the men can step off without the use of ladders. The cage is then hoisted several feet to provide clearance for the men on the bottom.

The template is then lowered to a point slightly above the lower ends of the guide beam sections by means of the chain hoist 22. While the template is held in this position, each of its extending arms has secured thereto by bolts or otherwise a jack 26. This jack has a top plate 21, extending beyond the template arm in a position to receive the lower end of the guide beam 23. It is also formed with an angle plate 28 extending outward and downward so that its lower edge is close to the wall of the shaft. The jack 26 is also equipped with a foot in the form of a vertical screw 29 threaded into the plate 21. The screw 29 is equipped at its upper end with a shackle 30 by which it may be suspended on the hoist 25 for handling the same while connecting it to the template. When the four jacks 26 have been put in place, the hoist 22 is operated to elevate the template until the jacks come in contact with the lower ends of the guide beam sections 23.

After the template has been positioned, as described above, a pair of clamping plates 3| is temporarily attached to each of the beams 23, as indicated in Figs. 13 and 15. The key plates I! are then placed in the notches at the ends of the template arms and the beams 23 moved into contact with said key plates. A chain 32 is then attached to the plates 3| and said chains from each pair of diametrically opposite beams are connected by a screw jack 33, which is tightened so as to haul in on the chains 32 thereby forcing the lower ends of the beams 23 inward against the key plates I1. This clamps the beams 23 against the template. The key plates I! are dimensioned with reference to the template so as to provide the correct spacing of the lower ends of such beams both radially and laterally.

m templaae is now plumbed; The may be done by plumbing two of the bean-r5 23 and-mowing the template until the correct adjustment is attained. when mmplate has been properly plumbed. and centered in the shaft, the feet 29 are screwed down against-a wooden block 55 protested by a steel plate $6 The block 55 rests upon a leveled spot on the loose rock. These feet then serve to support thetemplate and the beams and at the same time lib 8%1129 'th e slim against any lateral shift which may throw it out of plumb. The structure, including the template and the beams zsis now centered in the shaft.

In order to support the weight of the concrete shaftl inin'g, a lower supporting ring is secured to the Jacks 28. In the embodiment illustrated this ring is made in quadrants, one of said quadrants 34 being shown in plan view in Fig. 5 and in section in Fig. 12. It is generally conical in shape with its lower portion flared outward as shown in Fig. Band is provided with a horizontal top flange 35. The conical portion may be provideo on its outer surface with an angular ridge 38 This is for the purpose of forming in the lower surface of the concrete lining a groove or offset, adapted to provide a key with the subsequently cast section. The quadrant 3! is bolted or otherwise secured at its ends to the portions is of the jacks 2B. When the lower ring 34 has been installed, one or more bracing rings 31 are attached to the beams 23. These rings are preferably formed in semi-circular half portions. These half portions are threaded into the space between beams 23 and the shaft wall as shown in l3, and are then bolted to the beams 23. The two ends of each half are bolted to opposite beams 23, thereby forming a complete circle around the shaft. of course, where the shaft is non-circular in cross section, these bracing rings may be given a form corresponding to that of the shaft.

In the arrangement illustrated the rings 31 are provided at suitable intervals with anchoring members 36. These are shown in Fig. 13 as hooks, extending into the space between the beams 23 and the shaft wall and are embedded in the concrete lining when the latter is poured, thereby anchoring the rings 31 in said lining.

After the lower supporting ring has been irrstalled, as described, upright forms are attached to the beams 23. The upright forms are provided in the shape of quadrants 39 shown in the drawing as of circular shape and provided with upper and lower flanges Mi and M respectively. The ends of the quadrants 39 are formed with shallow notches 42. When these forms are set in place, the notches 42 engage the flanges of the guide beams 23, as shown in Fig. 14. The lower flange 4! of the lowermost quadrant is bolted to the flange 35 of the lower ring as shown in Fig. 12. The upper flange 40 is in turn bolted to the lower flange M of another tier of forms 39 placed above the first one. The forms 39 are secured in place on the beams 23 by screw-jacks 43. These jacks are expanded between the inner flange of the beams 23- and the edge of the form 39, as shown in Fig. 14. Any suitable number of forms 39 may be used to build up the complete form to the total height of the shaft lining section which is to be cast.

The uppermost section of the form, however, is in the form of a pouring section 44. This also may be in quadrant form as illustrated in Fig. '4. It is provided with end flanges 45, also provided with notches #2. Intermediate said end flanges,

a sloping trough portion I6. is managed to receive the ooncretewhen it is poured; As in Fig. 12, this pouring section is formed with a lower horizontal flange 41, which is bolted to the upper flange 40 of the top form section 39. As will be seen from Fig. 12, the concrete may be poured into the pouring section M from the topand will be guided into the space between the forms 39 and the shaft wall. This space is closed at the bottom by the supporting ring 3'4 and the loose rock piled thereagainst so that the concrete will be Ififi'i'led in this space to mould a shaft lining section. After the pouring operation has filled this space, a series of sealing gates are inserted into the pouring trough. In order to support these gates, partitions it are formed at spaced points along the trough. Lugs 50 on the partitions 4'9 and thecn-d flanges support the gates 43 against the pressure of the concrete. At intervals along the trough section, draining openings 5|, sealed by plugs 52, are provided. After the gates 48 have been put in place, the plugs 52 are removed and the excess concrete drained from the trough through the openings iii.

The beams 23 are now rigidly fastened at the top by the gusset plates to the previously installed b'eams, and rigidly supported at the bottom by the template and lacks. The cage is then raised to a position so the top deck affords a working platform for the men placing concrete. By wcdging between the plates 4 and the newly placed beams the cage provides bracing in the intermediate positions of the beams, thus preventing distortion of the forms. The cage also provides a safe working platform for any subsequent work that might have to be performed in the shaft, as well as serving as a canopy for the protection of the men working in the shaft.

When the concrete has taken its initial set the template may be disconnected from the jacks 26, the key plates I! removed and the template hauled out of the shaft along with the cage. The forms are now sell-supporting. The Jack's 26 may be removed and the mucking operation begun to clear the section below the forms. A new cycle may then start by drilling the next section. After the shaft has been sunk to its final depth there is usually a partition structure erected across the center thereof, dividing it into two shafts in each of which a skip is mounted for hauling men and materials up and down. In order that the cage '20 may be of use in the erection of this partition structure it is constructed so that one of its arms may be removed. Also, the floor and ceiling plates I and 8 are made in halves so that one half of each may be removed. This leaves a three-arm structure with semi-circular floor and ceiling plates which may be operated up and down the shaft, guided by the beams 23, to carry men and materials and to provide a work platform for the partition construction.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of this invention. Parts of the invention may be used without the whole, and improvements may be added, while retaining some or all of the advantages of the invention.

I claim:

1. The method of sinking mine shafts, comprising, excavating a shaft section to a predetermined depth, rigidly mounting a plurality of guide beams in vertical position along the sides of the excavated section, securing concrete-supporting bottom forms to the lower portions of said beams above the bottom of said excavated section, securing upright forms to said beams to extend along the wall of said excavated section but spaced therefrom, said bottom forms closing the space between said upright forms and said wall, and pouring concrete between said upright forms and said wall to mold a shaft-lining section having its lower end spaced above the bottom of said excavated shaft section.

2. The method of sinking mine shafts, comprising, excavating a shaft section to a. predetermined depth, rigidly mounting a plurality of guide beams in vertical position along the sides of the excavated section, securing concrete-supporting bottom forms to the lower portions of said beams above the bottom of said excavated section, securing upright forms to said beams to extend along the wall of said excavated section but spaced therefrom, said bottom forms closing the space between said upright forms and said wall, pouring concrete between said upright forms and said wall, excavating a succeeding shaft section below said first section, and in like manner molding a succeeding shaft-lining section below the preceding one.

3. The method of sinking mine shafts, comprising, excavating the shaft for a predetermined depth, rigidly mounting a plurality of guide beams in vertical position along the sides of the shaft, securing a lower concrete-supporting ring to the lower ends of said guide beams, securing removable forms to said guide beams, said forms extending along the shaft wall but spaced therefrom, pouring concrete between said forms and the shaft wall to mold a shaft-lining section, after the concrete has set removing said forms and said lower ring, and repeating the foregoing sequence of operations to mold a succeeding shaft-lining section below the preceding one.

4. The method of sinking mine shafts, comprising, excavating the shaft for a predetermined depth, rigidly mounting a plurality of guide beams in vertical position along the sides of the shaft,

bracing said beams by securing the same to a rigid bracing ring running around the outside of said beams between them and the shaft wall, securing a lower concrete-supporting ring to the lower ends of said guide-beams, securing removable forms to said guide beams, said forms extending along the shaft wall but spaced therefrom, pouring concrete between said forms and the shaft wall to mold a shaft-lining section, after the concrete has set removing said forms and said lower ring, and repeating the foregoing sequence of operations to mold a succeeding shaft-lining section below the preceding one.

5. The method of sinkingmine shafts in which the shaft is extended downward in a series of successive steps, one step comprising, excavating the shaft for a predetermined depth, lowering into the shaft a working cage carrying a plurality of guide beams and having attached therebelow a separable structure providing a positioning template, securing the upper ends of said guide beams to similar beams previously secured to concrete shaft lining previously cast, securing the lower portions of said guide beams to said template, plumbing and locating said template in the shaft, securing a lower concrete-supporting ring to the lower ends of said guide beams, mounting removable forms on said guide beams, said forms extending along the shaft wall but spaced therefrom, pouring concrete between said forms and the shaft wall to mold a shaft-lining section, whereby said bracing ring becomes embedded in the concrete, and after the concrete has set removing said forms and said lower ring.

6. The method of sinking mine shafts in which the shaft is extended downward in a series of successive steps, one step comprising, excavating the shaft for a predetermined depth, lowering into the shaft a working cage carrying a plurality of guide beams and having attached therebelow a separable structure providing a positioning template, securing the upper ends of said guide beams to similar beams previously secured to concrete shaft lining previously cast, bracing said beams by securing the same to a rigid bracing ring running around the outside of said beams between them and the shaft wall, securing the lower portions of said guide beams to said template, plumbing and locating said template in the shaft, securing a lower concrete-supporting ring to the lower ends of said guide beams, mounting removable form on said guide beams, said forms extending along the shaft wall but spaced therefrom, pouring concrete between said forms and the shaft wall to mold a shaft-lining section, whereby said bracing ring becomes embedded in the concrete, and after the concrete has set removing said forms and said lower ring.

7. The method of sinking mine shafts in which the shaft is extended downward in a series of successive steps, one step comprising, excavating the shaft for a predetermined depth, lowering into the shaft a working cage carrying a plurality of guide beams and having attached therebelow a separable structure providing a positioning template, securing the upper ends of said guide beams to similar beams previously secured to concrete shaft lining previously cast, securing the lower portions of said guide beams to said template, plumbing and locating said template in the shaft, securing a lower concrete-supporting ring to the lower ends of said guide beams, mounting removable forms on said guide beams, said forms extending along the shaft wall but spaced therefrom and having a pouring trough at their top, pouring concrete between said forms and the shaft wall to a level sufilcient to join with the lower end of said shaft lining previously cast, and sealing off said pouring trough along a vertical surface at the junction with said previously cast lining.

8. An apparatus for use in sinking mine shafts, comprising, a horizontally extending frame having lateral extensions engageable by vertical guide beam on the shaft wall and formed to provide a template for locating said beams, means for securing said beams to said extensions, and adjustable feet for supporting said template on the shaft bottom.

9. An apparatus for use in sinking mine shafts, comprising, a horizontally extending frame having lateral extension engageable by vertical guide beams on the shaft wall and formed to provide a template for locating said beams, means for securing said beams to said extensions, and a suspension connection for hanging said template on a cage.

10. An apparatus for use in sinking mine shafts, comprising, a horizontally extending frame having lateral extensions engageable by vertical guide beams on the shaft wall and formed to provide a template for locating said beams, removable dimensioning keys on said extensions engageable by said beams. means for securing said beams to said extensions, and adjustable feet for supporting said template on the shaft bottom.

11. An apparatus for use in sinking mine shafts, comprising, a working cage adapted to be lowered into the shaft havin guide channels engageable with guide beams on the shaft wall, a hoist on said cage, a horizontally extending frame having lateral extensions engageable with said guide beams for lowering said frame into the shaft and formed to provide a template for locating extensions of said beams, and a suspension connection on said template for hanging the same on said hoist below said cage.

12. An apparatu for use in sinking mine shafts, comprising, a working cage adapted to be low ered into the shaft having guide channels engageable with guide beams on the shaft wall, a hoist on said cage, a horizontally extending frame having lateral extensions engageabl with said guide beams for lowering said frame into the shaft and formed to provide a template for locating extensions of said beams, and a suspension connection on said template engageable with said hoist, said cage and hoist being constructed and arranged for operation to lower said template to the lower ends of such extensions of said beams while said cage is adjacent the upper ends thereof.

13. An apparatus for use in sinking mine shafts comprising; a working cage having an upright center column, laterally extending ceiling and floor structures at the upper and lower ends, respectively, of said column, and vertical channel members extending between said ceiling and members extending between said ceiling and floor structures and engageable with guide members on the shaft wall; and suspension connections on said cage attachable to a hoist for raising and lowering said cage in the shaft, whereby men, equipment and materials may be lowered into the shaft and hoisted therefrom, said floor structure having one or more openings through which guide beams may be lowered, and a hoist on said cage operable to lower a beam through said openmg,

15. An apparatus for use in sinking mine shafts comprising; a working cage having an upright center column, laterally extending ceiling and floor structures at the upper and lower ends, respectively, of said column, and vertical channel members extending between said ceiling and floor structures and engageable with guide members on the shaft wall; and suspension connections on said cage attachable to a hoist for raising and lowering said cage in the shaft, whereby men, equipment and materials may be lowered into the shaft and hoisted therefrom, said floor structure having one or more openings through which guide beams may be lowered, a hoist on said cage operable to lower a beam through said opening, a second hoist centrally located on said cage, and a horizontally extending frame suspended on said second hoist below said cage and having lateral extensions engageable with said guide members and formed to provide a template for locating the lower ends of guide beams lowered through said openings.

CHARLES K. BAIN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,834,751 Upson Dec. 1, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 363,690 France of 1906 

